• Press Report 26th February 2007
     

    More than 660 runners including 10 athletes from Ilford AC lined up for the start of the 25th running of the popular Roding Valley half marathon last Sunday. The wet conditions on a waterlogged and undulating  course were never going to produce fast times as Woodford Green’s Kevin Murphy came through from the chasing pack to take the race in 70 minutes 44 seconds.
     
    Many of the Ilford competitors were content to use the race as an opportunity to put in some steady extra mileage in preparation for April’s London Marathon, having already completed 2 gruelling  Essex championship distance races this month.
     
    Abdi Berleen was first man home for Ilford in a respectable time of 1hr 35 minutes 20 seconds followed by Duncan Turner in 1hr 40 minutes 3 seconds. Keith Ennis was not far behind in1hr 42 minutes 12 seconds and was followed by the club’s only lady competitor, Sally Gillam, in 1hr 52 minutes 13 seconds.
    It was good to see Michael Whitehead making a welcome return to running and managing to clock 1hr 53.21. Another athlete to break the 2hr mark was new member Steve Utting who looked comfortable with 1.56.19. Two other athletes, Sukhbindar Jandu and Sulakhan Jandu, narrowly missed out on their target times by a matter of seconds with 2.00.23 and 2.00.29 respectively.
     
    Alex Richards represented Essex in the U13 Boys race in the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships in mud clogging conditions at Wollaton Park,Nottingham on Saturday. Richards, who has come on in leaps and bounds this season, had an enjoyable run celebrating his first county vest and coming home in 62nd position out of 285 finishers. Alex was 2nd Essex finisher home in 14mins.26, 1 second behind S Worbey and within 90 seconds of race winner A Monaghan representing Northern Ireland.
     
     
    Meanwhile Ilford AC’s Under 20’s athletes were in action at the England Athletics Open Indoor Championships held at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. The club’s young stars acquitted themselves well over the two days of competition with Rachel Giwa and Aaron Balogun both coming away with some great personal bests in the 60 metres sprints.
    Giwa progressively lowered her PB through to the final where she finished 7th with yet another PB of 7.81. Balogun also ran a seasons best of 22.21 in the 200metre heat before narrowly missing out on the final finishing 3rd in his semi.
    Simeon Stuart put in a creditable performance despite being handicapped by a hip injury.
      
    Rachel Giwa       60m:     PB in heat 7.96, PB in Semi 7.84, PB in Final 7.81(7th)
    Aaron Balogun    60m:     PB in heat 7.04, 7.12 in Semi 
                               200m:   SB in heat 22.21s, 22.28 in Semi - 3rd
                               200m:   23.86 in heat
    Simeon Stuart     60m     7.62                       
                                LJ        6.00m
     
     
    Ilford AC now look forward to the Essex Senior Road Relay Championships to be held at Melbourne Park, Chelmsford, next Saturday.
     
     
    Gee-whiz, Giwa's in top form! - by Craig Burrow
     
    Ilford AC's top youngsters competed at the England Athletics national championships this weekend in Birmingham.
     
    Rachel Giwa returned to national level competition after a two year break running 3 personal bests (7.96,7.84,7.81) on her way to seventh in the Under 20 years women's 60m final. Rachel, previously held back by putting her school work first has her sights set on finding out how good she can be now that she can train more often. Perhaps an international vest will follow the hard work she intends to put in.
     
    Aaron Balogun returning to form after a series of hamstrings injuries ran exceptionally well in his Under 20 years 60m heat recording a personal best of 7.04 before being eliminated in the semi final in a time of 7.12s. After a gruelling day of competition Aaron returned the following day to compete in his favoured event the 200m , he had experienced some difficulties recently after some injury problems and this had effected his confidence. However, he put that all behind him with a seasons best of 22.21s in his heat before narrowly missing out on qualifying for the final with a time of 22.28s for 3rd in his semi final.
     
    Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake competing at the age of 12 years old in his first national championships ran exceptionally well to record a personal best in his Under 15 boys 60m heat of 7.93s. Nethaneel is a real prospect for the future and provided he receives the correct help and support any young prospect needs, should challenge the best in the country over the next few years
     
    Both Gary Madigan and Simeon Stuart ran in the 60m in their respective Under 20 and Under 17 age groups. Gary competing in his first national championships in the 6m and 200m ran slightly outside his personal bests and gained good experience for the future while Simeon hampered by a niggling hip injury competed well in the 60m and Long Jump.
     
    Ilford AC looks forward to the outdoor track season which starts in April with much anticipation. The results from the weekend highlight how hard everyone involved with the club works  to nurture young talent

    Batch back at it at the Sepentine 5k

    John Batchelor ran the Serpentine 5K last Friday on a different course to normal due to bridge repairs but nonetheless a regular 5K. John finished  45th out of 188 in 19:12 and was 1st M65/M60/M55 2nd M50+.